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Changes in sleep-waking cycle after striatal excitotoxic lesions
Juan Mena-Segovia1, León Cintra, Oscar Prospéro-García
1Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurobiology, Instituto de Neurobiología, Campus UNAM, Juriquilla, PO Box 1-1141, Querétaro 76230, Mexico. jmena@seridor.unam.mx
Behavioural Brain Research
|November 14, 2002
Summary
Striatal excitotoxic lesions in rats increased locomotor activity and wakefulness, disrupting slow-wave sleep patterns. These findings suggest the striatum regulates the sleep-wake cycle independently of motor activity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sleep Research
- Movement Disorders
Background:
- Huntington's disease (HD) is characterized by motor deficits and sleep disturbances, including reduced slow-wave sleep (SWS).
- Striatal lesions in rodents can increase locomotor activity, suggesting a role for the striatum in motor control and potentially sleep regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of striatal excitotoxic lesions on circadian activity and sleep patterns in rats.
- To determine the correlation between motor activity changes and sleep alterations post-lesion.
Main Methods:
- Sprague-Dawley rats underwent striatal excitotoxic lesions and were implanted for locomotor and EEG recordings.
- Activity was recorded for 4 or 24 hours at baseline, 7 days, and 30 days post-lesion.
Main Results:
- Locomotor activity significantly increased during the dark phase at 7 days post-lesion.
- Wakefulness (W) duration increased during the light phase at 30 days post-lesion, at the expense of SWS.
- No disruption of overall circadian rhythmicity was observed, but W-bout frequency increased and SWS-bout duration decreased.
Conclusions:
- The striatum appears to play a role in regulating the sleep-wake cycle, potentially independent of its role in motor activity.
- Increased wakefulness post-lesion may result from the loss of inhibitory control over brain regions involved in sleep-wake regulation.